Even Out West, the Masajid Are Expanding

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Hagerstown Community Breaks Ground for 5,000 SF Building

 

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The community in Hagerstown, MD broke ground on the expansion of the 100 year old stone structure that houses their masjid. Dr. Abdul Waheed, a resident of the area since the early 1980s, says that it is a project ten years in the making.  Less than 5 minutes off Interstate 70 Exit 32 B brings travelers to the Islamic Society of Western Maryland.


The site was purchased by the community in 1991. The community has evolved from the 6 families of doctors, who moved to Hagerstown to find a safe haven from big city life, to more than 200 families. Over the years, Bosnian refugees and South Asian, Arab, African immigrants have made Hagerstown their home. Muslim families from bordering states, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, also call the masjid their spiritual home.


Funding had held up the project, but the community has now raised the money from within and the ground is being prepared for construction. The contract signed for $1.1 million is just shy of the final amount.

 

 

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The expansion will house a 5000 sq. ft. hall that will double as additional prayer space during jummah and the Eidain. A foldable divider will separate the multi purpose room from the current prayer space. A foyer for the women, a new kitchen, bathrooms for men and women will also be a part of the extension. “Many community members put in their thoughts, their expertise [and money],” said Dr Waheed.


The community has an active youth group, and hifdh program that has graduated 4 huffadh.


The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by the Board of trustees and Board of Directors, community members as well as leadership from Dar us Salaam in College Park, Maryland.


The community prays that the project will be completed by next spring.


Representatives of the board expressed their appreciation for the local authorities who have been ‘very helpful and cooperative.”

The Islamic Society of Western Maryland is located at 2036 Day Rd Hagerstown, MD 21740 and online at www.iswmd.org.

 

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